lady in red

I always try to visit the Louvre pyramids
at night when I'm in Paris.
Last time, I saw four or five Asian couples
posing there.  It was Paris Fashion Week—but
I think all of them were there strictly
for themselves.  Brides and grooms, probably.
At any rate, they all looked beautiful.

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

skywatch reflection

Reflected in a Louvre pyramid:
fluffy French clouds in a
beautiful blue sky.

[Linking back to Weekend Reflections
and Skywatch Friday.]

mirror, mirror

  on the wall . . . of the apartments of
Napoleon III, in the Louvre.  This is the 
salle à manger, where Nappy 3 and
his wife, Eugenie, could join 48 hungry 
guests at their very long table.

[To see more Weekend Reflections, visit James's meme.]

ABC Wednesday—S is for "Starbucks"

At the Louvre, no less.  There's something
about it that's just so un-Parisian.
(On the other hand, I have to admit that
I really do like those cups.)

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Wandering through the Louvre, you'll find
way more than just paintings and
sculpture—there's a vast collection of objects,
furnishings, even jewelry that belonged
to various important personages.  I neglected
to note whose flatware this was . . . 

but I can tell you that this coffee grinder
belonged to Madame de Pompadour 
(though I kind of doubt she
ground her own coffee, don't you?).

[To see more Sunday Shadows, go here.] 

ABC Wednesday—J is for "jewelry"

It's a little bijoux—only 2,634 diamonds—
that belonged to Empress Eugénie,
the woman Napoleon III married for love. 
At one time it was in the hands of the
Astors, among others, but made its way
back to the Louvre six years ago.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Thursday Challenge—"seat"

In the dining room of his "apartment" in the
Louvre, Napoléon III could have an intimate sit-down
supper with 49 of his nearest and dearest.
I wouldn't have wanted to be in charge of the seating chart.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo
Challenge, visit Dale's meme.]

Le Louvre, La Nuit

I'm always surprised—and pleased—when 
I pass by the Louvre late at night and 
find hardly another soul around.
(Just wish I had the chance more often!)

[To see more Weekend Reflections, visit James's meme.]

The Weekend in Black and White

Enjoying a café and a kir—and a bit of Parisian
people-watching—at Café le Nemours. 
It's on place Colette (who lived very nearby, in
an apartment overlooking the Palais Royal gardens).

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

The Weekend in Black and White

It's unusual to find this colonnade empty
because it leads directly to the courtyard of
the Louvre, the most-visited museum in the
world—more than 8 million people per year
(equivalent to almost the entire population of
all five boroughs of New York City).

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

The Weekend in Black and White

This is my absolute dead fave piece of sculpture in the
world: The Nike of Samothrace, aka Winged Victory.
I fell in love with her the very first time I walked
into the Louvre—almost (ahem) 50 years ago.
But she's even older than I am; it's estimated that
she was created about 2,200 (and 1) years ago! 


[To see more monochromes, go here.]

abc wednesday—U is for "upside-down"

upside down"

I admit that (unlike some folks) I've always loved the 
above-ground pyramids that now define the entrance to
 the Louvre, and was pleasantly surprised when I first saw 
this upside-down one (which features prominently in the 
final chapter of Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code).

[To see more abc Wednesday, go here.]

ABC Wednesday—P is for "Paris"

I love this city—I lived here long ago
and I'm determined to have an address here
again some day.  For inspiration, I opened
another blog a while ago and I'll be posting to
it on the first of each month (for starters).
Here's the first post.

[To see more abc Wednesday posts, go here.]

Traveling Tuesdays

Let's go back to Paris this week.
I wouldn't think of setting foot in the Louvre
without spending a little time with the
exquisite Venus de Milo.  What I noticed
about this photo only after I'd taken it—
not a single person in this shot is looking at her!


To see more travels, go to Sandi's blog:
http://whistlestopcooking.blogspot.com/

Shadow Shot Sunday

Stepping out in front of the Louvre:  my daughters,
Lila and Katie, and in between their good pal
(soon to defend her dissertation and become Dr.!) Dena.
When we were there last March, these girls owned the town!
(Or at least the part of it that wasn't mine.)   :~}
[To see more shadows, go here.]

abc wednesday — M is for "metro"

This is the fantastical Paris metro station you come
to for the Louvre and also for the Palais Royal—
seriously, you won't see this anywhere else!
[To see more posts for the letter M, go here.]

Thursday Challenge — "green"

Had to be green, for the challenge.  And had to be Paris,
since that's where I've landed this morning.  Wish I had
more info about this sculpture.  Here's what I know:  It's
one of four bronze slaves (or prisoners) who now live in
the Cour Puget, in the Louvre.  Anyone know more?

Allons, enfants!

Happy Bastille Day to all français and 

fellow francophiles!  Here's my

Parisian offering for this special day!

abc wednesday — P is for "pyramids"

and also Paris, since these are the ones in

front of the Louvre.  I know they were

controversial at first, but I've 

always loved them.  How about you?

(Thought I took this picture, but now I see

myself in it, so credit goes to my daughter Lila.)

Nike of Samothrace

AKA "Winged Victory," my all-time favorite
thing in any museum anywhere (if I had to
choose, that is).  There was a time when the
Louvre was free every Sunday, not just once
a month, and I would try to get there every
week, even if all I had time to do was stare
at this for a few minutes.  Maybe that's why
this is my favorite moment from one of my
favorite movies.